Agitating apparatus.



PATENTBD JNB 9, 1903,' W. H. MUTTER.

AGITA-TING APPARATUS.-

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 18. 1902.

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No MODEL.`

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PATBNTBD JUNE 9, 1903.

4 SHEETS-Brizzi 'as I`\}{ED AUG. 18, 1902.

W. H. MUTTER.

AGITATING APPARATUS.'

APPLIUATION A TTORNE No. 730,384.v

No MODEL.

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vPA'IEINT'EI) JUNE 9, 1903.

AGITTING APPARATUS. PPLIATI'N ILBD AUG. 18| 1902.

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no MODEL,

W/TNESSES;

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N0 MODEL.

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PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MUTTER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

AGITATING APPARATUS.'

.tEECIFICATION forming'pamt of Letters Patent. No. 730,384, dated lJune`9, 1903. Application filed August 18, 1902. Serial No. 1211.090. (No model.)

T CLZZ whom t mfcty concern.:

4Be it knownu that I, WILLIAM H. MOT'IJER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Agitating= Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accom- I panying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of may be agitated and otherwisev treated, re

quiring little motive power. Means are provided for the ready and convenient handling ofthe ore-pulp as it is fed into the vmachine for treatment and removed after treatment and in which a thorough agitation and mixing of the ore-pulp with the leaching liquid is eiected.

To this end it consists in the arrangement of a series of specially-devised cylindrical or other shaped retorts or vats mounted on a pivoted or rocking platform in such a man' ner as to give a reciprocating revolving motion to the vats, said motion being controlled by the travel of the rocking platform.

The invention further consists in the details of its construction and combinations of its operative parts, all of which I will now proceed to d'enitely describe and then point out in the claims that which I believe to be novel.

In the drawings, Figurel is a general view, in side ele.vation,of my improved device,show ing its connection with its operating-winch. Fig. 2 is a detail vievs7 of the agitator shown in side elevation. Fig. '3 lis a top plan view of the same with the top platform cut away. Fig. 4c is an enlarged vertical cross-section of the same. jFg. is an end view of one of the cylindrical vats or retorts. Fig. 6- is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section of one of the vats. Fig.

8- is a detail plan View of a combined air- I pump and travel-regulator employed.

Referring to the drawings,similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the several views, in which- 5 indicates the bed or stationary frame. Centrally mounted inr this frame is the rockshaft 6, journaled in the bearings 7. Rigidly mounted on the rock-shaft 6 is the rocking or pivotedplatform 8, consisting of the parl allel beams 82L 85'V andjsupporting-beams 8 and 8d, as shown in the drawings. These beams and supports are all made of heavy timbers, securely bound and bolted together,

as the invention is especially adapted for the handling of large quantities of ore pulp. Over the platform 8 is constructed a second platform 9, supported by the beams 9 and 9C. This platform is arranged for the convenient supply of ore-pulp to the vats, as will be hereinafter described. A reciprocating rocking motion is given to the platform Shy the winch 10, (see Fig. 1,) which is connected to the platform by the cable 11, one end cf which is secured to the boomer pole 12, projecting from one end of the platform and the other end secured to the boom or pole 12, projecting from the opposite end of the platform. It will be seen that the cable 11 passes over the sheaves 13 and 13EL in the frame 5 and sheaves 14 and 14 of the winch, also that it passes around the drum 10:L of the winch. Motion is communicated to the winch through the tight pulleys 15 and 16, operated by the belts 17 and 18, connected with the same line-shaft. (Not shown.) Mounted on the power-shaft' 10c of the Winch with the tight pulleys 15 and 16 are two loose pulleys 15a and 16a, over` which the belts 17 and 18 are alternately shifted by the motion of the rocking platform, as will now be described. The belt 18 is crossed, imparting a reverse motion to its'pulleys on the winch to that imparted by the belt 17. A belt-shifter 19 is slotted at its forward end, as shown at 19a, and connected to the rocking frame,.the part 19a being fitted over a pin 2O in the frame. The rear end of the beltshifter is pivoted on the rocking arm 2l at 211. It will be seen that the pin 20 will engage the belt-,shifter 19 at the end of the slotted part 19 just before the rocking frame IOC reachesits limit of travel in either direction, and guide-pins 19con the shifter engaging the belts 17and 18 will shift them from left to right or right to left, according '-to the direction of travel of the rocking platform. The pulleys 15, 16, 15, and 16a are disposed on the shaft 10C, as shown in the drawings, so as to have the belt 17 engage its tight pulley while the belt 18 engages its loose pulley, the belt 17 being shifted to its loose pulley as the belt 1S is shifted to its tight pulley, and vice versa as the belts arev shifted in the opposite directions, thus automatically imparting a continuous rocking motion to the platform 8.

Resting on the rocking platform 8 are theI four cylindrical vats or retorts 22. These vats 22 are pivoted at equal distances apart in a reciprocating frame 23 and are caused to travel over tracks 24, secured to the beams 8a bytheir own gravity as the platform is tilted from one side to the other. In practice it is proposed that each vat may contain about twenty-five tons of ore-pulp, thus treating one hundred tons of ore-pulp in one operation, and as the vats are pivoted in a common frame they will travel in unison. To regulate and retard the travel of these vats, which are caused to roll from right to left and left to right by their own gravity over the alternating incline given to the rocking platform, I have provided the hydraulic regulating-cylinder 26. (See Fig. 8.) This cylinder is provided with the piston-head 26, a piston-rod 26C, protruding through each end of the cylinder, and a pipe 27, connecting the cylinder, provided with a regulatingvalve 27".l By means of this pipe 27 the opposite ends of the cylinder 26 are in communication with each other. This cylinder 26 is secured in the rocking platform 8 (see Figs. 1 and 2) and has secured to the protruding ends of its piston-rod 26c the cables 28. The opposite ends of these cables are in turn secured to the opposite extremity of the reciprocating frame 23, thus forming a continuons circuit through the piston-rod 26C, cables 28, and frame 23. As the platform is tilted in either direction the gravity of the rolling vats will cause the piston-head 26a to travel in its cylinder, forcing the oil or other liquid from one end of the cylinder to the other through the passage` 27, and as the fiow of oil through the passage is regulated by the valve 27CL the travel of the piston-rod and its connections is likewise retarded and controlled. Spring-bumpers 30 and 30a, mounted in the supports 9", are arranged to receive the impact ot` the rolling vats as they reach the end of travel in either direction, and similar spring-bumpers 31 and 3la are mounted in the bed 5 to receive the impact of the rocking platform as it reaches the end ofits travel in either direction. The tension of these spring-bumpers also acts to relieve the deadweght to be overcome in reversing the action of the automatic Winch.

Arranged in the platform 9 is a'series of hoppers 32, which are centrally disposed over the vats 22 when the platform 8 is in a horizontal position, as shown in the drawings. Through these hoppels 32 the pulverized ore is supplied to the vats. The ore is being carried to the platform 9 in ore-cars 33, running over tracks 34, from which it may readily be dumpedinto any of the hoppers 32.

The vats 22 are preferably constructed as shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. As shown in these views, each vat consists of a cylindrical vessel,preferably made of wood or other non-corrosive material and provided with the manhole 22, for the introduction of the ore. The treating liquid is introduced to and removed from the vats through the hose .35, which communicates with the perforated pipe 36, (see Fig. 7,) having the branch pipes 36a, thus thoroughly distributing the liquid through the pulverized ore, in which the perforated pipes are embedded. A compressionclip 35iL is employed for closing the hosepipe 35.

A relief vent or pipe 37 is connected to the vat 22, as seen in the drawings, for carrying off the fumes during the process of treating the pulp. This pipe 37 also consists of a flexible hose and is closed by the compressionclip 37a. In the opposite end of the vat (see Fig. 7) is introduced the air-pipe 3S. This air-pipe extends to a point near the center of the vat and projects downwardly, so as to introduce the air below the liquid-level of the vat in the process of treatment. To provide the air-pressure supplied to these pipes 38, I have arrangedv an air-pump I10, which is mounted in the rocking platform 8, parallel with the cylinder 26 and provided with a donble piston-rod 40, which is secured at each end to the piston-rod 26 of the cylinder 26, as seen in Fig. 8. It will be observed that as the piston-head 40c in the cylinder 40 is carried back and forth the suction formed in the opposite ends of the cylinder will alternately cause the air to be drawn through the checkvalves 41 and pipes 41 and force the air through the pipes 42 and check-valves 42a on its'return stroke, and these pipes 42 communicate with the pipes-38 of the vats by the hose connections 39. When su'liicient air has been :forced into the vats to perform the desired function in the treatment of the ore-pulp, small relief-cocks 40d, arranged at each end of the cylinder 40, may be opened. The checkvalves 422L prevent the return of air from the vats. Hence the pressure in the latter may be maintained.

To thoroughly agitate and mix the Wet orepulp as it is tumbled in the rolling vat, I provide a number of inwardly-projecting arms o1' prongs 22C, (see Fig. 6,) which separate and break up the rolling mass and accelerate its thorough agitation. After the ore-pulp has been thoroughly agitated and subjected to the liquid introduced through the perforated pipes 36 and 36a the rocking platform is again IOO IIO

passages. v-ing gangue, I have provided the manhole 22d I diametrically opposite the manhole 22 and' `the liquid chemicals containing the dissolved metals drawn off through the same perforated To remove the tailings or remainin the bottom of thervats when in the position shownV in the drawings.

the beams 8iL 8a (see Fig. 4) and extending the length of the platform 8 is the-trough or is slightly tilted, the manholes 22d opened,

and the pulp permitted to fall into the troughy 45. Water may be introduced into the vats` for the purpose of thoroughly cleansing them.

' The slush passes off through the manholes 22d and is carried ed with the gangue or tailings over the trough 45. Any form of extension (not shown) may be attached to the lower end of the trough 45, so as to conduct the tailings away from the machine.

In place of the track 42, over which the vats 22 roll, a rack-bar (not shown) might be employed,having its teeth engage toothed wheels or bands (not shown) mounted on the vats, thus insuring the relative position of the vats upon the platform and with each other; but in most instances the frame 23 will accomplish this purpose.

The combinations with the various parts are operated as above described; but the order of their individual functions may be varied according to the character of the ore to be treated. In place of the winch l0 other means might be employed for operating the platform 8, or the rolling vats 22 may be manipulated by a separate motive power.

Other minor changes within the scope of the following claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an agitator, the combination with a suitable support, of a framev mounted to reciprocate above the support, and a' cylindrical vat connected with the frame, whereby as the latter reciprocates the vat will be subjected ally mounted on the frame and engaging the Arranged between` land a cylindrical tank mounted to roll back and forth on the platform as the latter is tilted in opposite directions'.

5. The combination of a rocking platform, a tank mounted on the platform and relatively movable, and means for operating the platform, whereby the liquid contents of the tank, are agitated, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a rocking platform, a frame mounted to reciprocate adjacent the platform, a number of cylindrical tanks engaging the platform and trunnioned on the frame, a suitable device connecting the opposite ends of the frame, and guides engaged `by said device, whereby as the rocking platform is operated, the frame and tank move back and forth by gravity, substantially as described.

'7. The combination of a rocking platform,

a frame mounted to reciprocate on the platform, cylindrical tanks or vats mounted on the platform and trunnioned on the frame, exible devices connected with the opposite ends of the frame, guides engaged by said flexible devices, and means connected with Vsaid iiexiole devices for regulating the reciprocating movement of the frame and tanks, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a rocking platform, means for operating the same, aframe mounted to reciprocate adjacent the platform,cylin drical tanks or vats trunnioned on the frame, and engaging the platform, llexible'. devices connected with the opposite extremities of the frame, guides therefor, a liquid-containing tank, a piston therein, stems protruding from the opposite extremities of the tank, and a valve-controlled cond uit connecting the opposite extremities of the tank, the iiexible devices of the frame being connected with the piston-stems, substantially as described.

9. In an agitator, the combination of a support, a frame mounted to reciprocate, cylindrical tanks trunnioned on the frame, and

resting on the support,yieldingbuffers mounted on the support in the path of the frame at the opposite ends of the support, and means for reciprocating the frame, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a rocking platform, tanks mounted thereon, a connection between the tanks whereby their relative position is maintained during the rocking motion of the platform, a cable whose extremities are connected with the opposite extremities ofthe platform, a drum, for operating the cable, and means controlled by the movement of the platform, for imparting a rotary movement to the drum in reverse directions, substantially as described.

ll. The combination of a rocking plat-form, a cable whose extremities are connected with the opposite extremities of the platform, a drum for operating the cable, two fast pulleys in operative connection with the drum, loose pulleys mounted adjacent the fast pulleys, belts connected with the pulleys and ar- IIO ranged to turn the drum in opposite directions, and a belt-shifting device operated by the movement of the platform, whereby each belt is alternately shifted from its fast to its loose pulley, and a connection between the belt-shiftin g device and the rocking platform, whereby the belt-shifting device is automatically operated from the platform, substantially as described.

l2. In an agitator,the combination of a rocking platform, a number of cylindrical tanks mounted thereon, a frame connecting the tanks t0 cause them to maintain their proper relative position, cables connected'with the opposite extremities of the frame, suitable 

